Emyr's Road (Chapters 1 & 2 up!)

[Severin]

(I need a better title.)

Blurb:
Aged ten, Fitzroy Vance sets out on his Pokémon journey in the region of Kalos. He reigns supreme, fighting his way through all the Leagues and defeating the Elite Four before he even turns eleven.
Fourteen years later, he toils away as a journalist in Lumiose Press, writing for the much-hated gossip column. He hasn't thought about his journey in a long time, but when a simple change of fate occurs, he finds himself suddenly faced with a new journey, with an unusual companion...

Author's Note:
I haven't revised or even read over any of this, because I'm lazy, so if you notice any goofs, please let me knows!

Table of Contents:
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ii

[Severin]

I.
The sound of screaming rose distinctly above the clamour of Lumiose Press, but the only person to even remotely pay attention was Fitzroy, whose pale blue eyes flicked up for a moment. Alexa was waving her phone around wildly, screen shining bright white. “I GOT A SCOOP!”

Fitzroy grunted, pushing up his absolutely unnecessary reading glasses and hammering out a few more words on the topic of the new Elite Four member, Whitby, scrunching up his face in disgust at the amount of pure gossip pouring into the article. Fitzroy would like to write a comprehensive article about Whitby’s background as a trainer, his team, and his competitive strategies – but alas, the gossip section called only for sneak peeks into Whitby’s relationship background, and scathing remarks about his girlfriend’s PhotoShare bikini shots. In his own opinion, Fitzroy thought she was of a nice weight – a little plump, perhaps, but it was a nice plumpness; however, if he wrote that, the editor would slap him in the face and force him to change it, so scathing remarks it had to be.

Alexa put her hands on her hips. “IT’S A REAL GOOD SCOOP, EVERYBODY!” Grunting, Fitzroy plugged in his earphones and began looking for a writing playlist of some sort, hearing a similar wave of frustration floating around the office. Everyone was busy producing articles at light speed to try and keep up with the rate of news production in Lumiose City, and any distraction was unwelcome. She reached for a bright red megaphone, and, clearing her throat, announced: “PRINCE EMYR IS COMING TO LUMIOSE!”

Prince Emyr? Fitzroy, bored of his critical commentary on Whitby’s girlfriend’s social class, quickly searched the name through the company default search engine, too lazy even to switch to a better engine. Emyr was the heir to the throne in a bizarrely small region, Korova, but monarchies were becoming extremely rare, leaving any desirable. On the plus side, Emyr himself was handsome – he had tanned skin and a soft face, with hair dyed a shocking shade of pink. Gossip sites decided that it was a ‘terrible’ hair colour, but Fitzroy, with his own hair turquoise, thought it was quite nice. Special.

“PLUS,” Alexa continued. “HE’S AGREED TO DO AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LUMIOSE PRESS! IT’S A SCOOP, GUYS!” Fitzroy looked up – really? What did Emyr have to say, in the grand scheme of things? He was just a prince. A small round of applause and deadpan ‘whoops’ rotated through the office, and Alexa, satisfied, sat down and got on with her work. Fitzroy thought about Emyr for a while, but eventually was also swallowed up in the world of words.


Sleep was something that often evaded Fitzroy, and he was sprawled on his burgundy sofa, his Flareon curled up on his lap and his Persian almost like a decoration on his rug, with the TV on. It was some terrible program, one of those judge ones, all based on Judge Drayden, where a shrill judge was making ‘witty’ comments on a dull participant.

He started as his phone rang, Flareon jumping off his lap in disgust that his phone had even so much as moved, and he picked up immediately, not even checking who it was. “H-hello?” He cursed himself for stammering; he sounded so dorky.

“Fitz! It’s me, Alexa.” He let out a mumble. “Well, I was meant to be interviewing Prince Emyr tomorrow – oh wait, it’s three in the morning, it’s today! – and a family emergency has come up and I’ve got to get out to Hoenn, ASAP, so... I’m hoping you can do it. I trust you.”

“I’ll do it,” he said immediately – he had agreed to meet up with a longtime friend, but that friend would know that this kind of interview was important. They could always meet up another time. “Send me the details. Did you draft questions?”

“Finished not long ago, actually. Thank you so much, Fitz, this is so good of you. I owe you one!”

“Hey, we’re friends; you owe me nothing at all. We’ve got to help each other.” They made idle chatter for a few minutes, and Alexa e-mailed him over the information. Fitzroy couldn’t sleep now, not with the anticipation running through his veins. He was going to be doing one of the most important interviews in Lumiose Press history – a royal interview! And it was his!

He ran his hand through his Persian’s fur, and swore a little. “Please let me survive the day with my pride intact...”


Prince Emyr looked even better in person: he walked perfectly, with just the right amount of confidence, but not so much that it flowed into arrogance. An Arcanine swaggered along beside him, clearly his bodyguard of sorts. Fitzroy had tried to put nicer clothes on, but with his wardrobe making a jump from tees and jeans to a smart suit or two, there was nothing more he could do than put on a shirt with jeans. It made him look like an oddball, to say the least. A gossip article about himself would’ve torn the outfit apart.

Emyr himself was dressed in a black T-shirt, a designer hoodie with a bright and chaotic pattern, and a pair of ethnic-patterned harem trousers. He definitely looked like he was from another country, standing out in the crisp modern fashion of Lumiose’s streets. Fitzroy liked his ensemble: it suited.

“I’m Fitzroy Vance, journalist.” He held out his hand, and Emyr shook it warmly, smiling with what was described in the gossip pages as ‘a heartthrob smile’. “I usually, rather unfortunately, work in the gossip pages, but for today, I get to do this formal interview with you. Don’t worry, I’m not much one for cruel comments.”

“Any comments you have for me can’t be worse than those from my family,” he said, smiling and tapping the side of his nose – Fitzroy suddenly realised that Emyr was surprisingly well-pierced. His nose was pierced with two twin hoops, his eyebrow with a stud that shone red, and his septum with a massive jewelled hoop that swamped his cupid’s bow; how Fitzroy could’ve missed that, he wasn’t sure, but they seemed to blend into his appearance. He spied metal from under Emyr’s wad of pink hair, but couldn’t be sure. “They think I’m ruining myself, dressing like this, piercing holes in my face.”

“They suit you,” Fitzroy commented, sitting down at the café table, tapping the end of his pen against his notepad. It was beginning to run out of paper; he hoped it would last the whole interview. “Everything about you suits.”

Emyr laughed, cheeks going pink. “You think so? I’m glad. It’s nice to be here – though the fashion tends to be the same, I’ve seen quite a few more unique designs. But I’m sure you’d like to be of gossip territory, right?”

“Right.” Fitzroy looked down, beginning his interview. It flowed well – he found himself in a natural discussion with Emyr, as if they had been friends for a long time. He just wished Emyr would drop the act – he was obviously doing his best to present some kind of royal image, but he looked so simple.

As the interview drew to a close, Emyr finished his coffee and leaned in. “I have a proposition for you, Fitzroy.” A smile played on his lips. “I would like to go on a Pokémon journey, the way children in this region do. And I would like you to take me.”

“What?” Fitzroy shook his head. “You’re a prince, and... it’s like kidnapping! Why didn’t you just go on your journey when you were ten, like everybody else?”

Emyr’s patience didn’t even flinch. He just kept smiling, almost eerily. “In the region of Korova, the tradition of embarking on a journey doesn’t exist. My parents disapprove of the idea of the monarchy participating in something as ‘lowly’ as Pokémon battling and training – and therefore, here I am, aged twenty, and I own no Pokémon. I am sick, and the antidote is this journey.”

Fitzroy knew this was ridiculous, but as he stirred the remnants of his coffee, he began to think how nice it would be. He had been on his own journey, aged ten, and still caught the occasional Pokémon if ever he went wandering along a Route, and missed the thrill of his original journey – battling Gym Leaders, training up a team, the eternal search for rare Pokémon...

“I’ll do it,” he said suddenly, instantly regretting the words that had come out of his mouth. By Arceus, what was he doing? This would surely sour his reputation and brand him as a kidnapper, plus giving him the fun bonus of being hated by a foreign region’s monarchs. But he wanted to do it, more than anything. He didn’t want to write another gossip article ever again.

Emyr chuckled. “The call of a Pokémon journey rings true to all.” He slid a ticket across the table. “I’ll see you there.” Fitzroy looked down – it was a plane ticket, straight to the Schaan region.

[Severin]

II.
“I appreciate the favour,” said Fitzroy, gently taking the glimmering Poké Ball from Maria’s hands. She snorted, rolling her eyes and resting a hand on her hip.
“You’re still an idiot for doing this,” she said, inviting him to take a seat by her small table. “I am absolutely disappointed in you. You’re meant to be a high-flying journalist, and here you are, running away from your responsibilities to rendezvous with royalty! Your own newspaper will eat you alive.” Maria was a very special person to Fitzroy – they had grown up minutes from each other, in home location and time of birth, and had been fierce rivals on their journeys. Well, fierce when battling; they weren’t so fierce when huddled around a campfire in the night when the winter cold was biting at their toes. She felt perfectly grown-up, now a model and avant-garde Poké Ball designer. It was ridiculous what the rich paid for.

He sighed. “I know it’s ridiculous, and I’m sorry. I know what I’m doing is stupid, but my life is so boring. I can’t stand it. I’ve thought about it a lot; I had a month before the plane, after all, and I’ve decided this is what I want to do.”

Maria placed a cup of tea in front of him, patting his curly green mop of hair. “Well, as long as you understand that you’re being an idiot.” She handed him a satchel, rusty leather with craftsmanship that even he, thick as mince to fashion, could tell was impressive. “It’s designer, so that better last you. Now, I’ve put in some medicine for you, and a couple items left over from my journey, though I’m sure you’ve got enough stuff for yourself already. Oh, and some Poké Balls. Some are bespoke, thank you very much, but some are just ordinary. Can’t give you too many freebies, now.”

“Thank you so much, Maria, this means a lot.” He pulled the satchel onto his lap, stuffing the Poké Ball inside – Maria had bred Pokémon for a short while after her journey, and had agreed to give him a ‘mystery starter’. He was glad for her presence in Schaan; he’d need it. “I just hope Emyr has a starter.”

“Have you considered bringing along your own Pokémon in case things go pear-shaped?” Maria asked, brow furrowing in concern. Fitzroy smiled.

“Next Pokémon Centre I hit up, I’m bringing a couple with me. This time, there’s no need to almost freeze to death in Frost Cavern because all our fire Pokémon fainted on us and we have no Revives or Escape Ropes.” Maria rolled her eyes, waving a hand and muttering something about how they’d been fine.

“Well, I wish you the best of luck with this League,” she said, as Fitzroy sipped his tea. “Though, considering the way you made it through the last one, I have no worries.”

He chuckled. “It’s been fourteen years since the last League. I’m not a ten-year-old boy anymore.”
“Your age means nothing. You’ve always been strong.” Maria stood up, heading towards the kitchen counter. “Emyr has a force to be reckoned with in you.”


Something looked so much more ordinary about Emyr as he sat on a painted-white bench, hair gelled back and out of his face. Fitzroy looked consciously for his ear piercings – both were stretched out at the lobes, and his right was pierced up from just above the stretcher all the way up to the top. It struck Fitzroy there that while they carried an aesthetic appeal, they must be painful – Maria had had her nose pierced when they reached Lumiose together, and had almost fainted. He wondered how much pain Emyr had gone through, both with his parents and with himself.

“Fitzroy!” Emyr stood up, smiling brightly. “You’re here. That’s good. I was worried you were suddenly going to, I don’t know... abdicate?”

“How could I do that? I said I’d be here, so I’m here.” He pulled his Poké Ball out of his satchel. “Did you get a starter?”

“Well... the monarchy was gifted a Pokémon, and nobody else seems to be doing anything with her, so I took her along. She’s a Vaporeon, but she has really odd colours – not Shiny, but... just weird.” Emyr lightly tapped the button in the centre of his Poké Ball, conjuring up the image of his reddish-coloured Vaporeon.
“How unusual,” Fitzroy mumbled. “I think Lumi Press once published an article on the development of unusual colours within Pokémon, but I didn’t read it... I should’ve, shouldn’t I?”

Emyr laughed, spinning his Poké Ball in his hand. “I’ve been told it’s tradition to have a rival Pokémon trainer,” he said, looking up at Fitzroy with a smirk that could break hearts. “So... how about a battle?”

Fitzroy’s face broke into a grin, and he nodded, releasing forwards his mystery starter, heart pounding in anticipation. What would it be? Would it be rare, common; big, small; good, bad? As the light faded from around his new Pokémon, his heart sank.

It was a Purrloin. Of all the cool Pokémon Maria could’ve bred for him, she gave him a bloody Purrloin. Emyr stifled a s******, clasping his hand over his lips. Fitzroy stared down in horror at the tiny catlike creature, but as she turned to stare at him with her big eyes, he fell for her. She was so cute, and he loved his cats, after all.

“Vaporeon, Bite her!” Emyr commanded, voice suddenly rising loud and clear. Fitzroy started, trying to wrack his brains for what his new Purrloin could do, but she had a mind of her own, steering clear of the leaping Vaporeon and standing aside. Vaporeon turned to have another go, but stopped, staring into Purrloin’s big, round eyes, suddenly feeling as if she couldn’t hurt the poor little thing...

“FURY SWIPES!” Fitzroy screeched, suddenly overwhelmed by the battle, overwhelmed by the desire of wanting to win. He felt as if he were drowning in a sea of tension, and watched with glee as his cat Pokémon leapt forwards, claws at the ready to shred at the Vaporeon.

“Water Gun and get her off!” Emyr called, and his Vaporeon obliged, the powerful stream of water knocking Purrloin away. Fitzroy was about to make a command, but Purrloin had vanished from his eyeline – he frowned, watching in surprise, impressed as she made a reappearance behind Vaporeon, coming down hard on the water Pokémon. A Pursuit, Fitzroy guessed.

Vaporeon was beginning to look a little worse for wear, and as she spun round for a bite, Purrloin gave her a vicious Scratch to the face, upon which the Vaporeon slapped the cat with her tail, resulting in a small bubble of a catfight, until Emyr gave up, recalling his hissing Pokémon.

As Emyr reached his hand out for a handshake, he was interrupted by a gleeful cheer from a lady in her mid-forties, who was carrying a starstruck Pichu in her arms. “What a good battle!” she exclaimed. “I thought you were doomed when you sent out that Purrloin, but you’re a good trainer.”

“Thank you,” Fitzroy said with a smile. “I beat the Pokémon League in Kalos when I was younger, so I have a little bit of an upper hand, but he fought well.”
“It’s so thrilling to see a battle,” she said, smiling. “I hope you have a good journey.”

Fitzroy thanked the lady, and led Emyr through town, scanning for the bright orange of the Pokémon Centre. They were in a small town, one of Schaan’s smallest, and sometimes small towns didn’t have Pokémon Centres. Chewing on his thumbnail, Fitzroy suddenly noticed the building, leading Emyr into the building. Heat flowed through the building, and it was lit up from all sides.

“So this a Pokémon Centre,” Emyr murmured, looking around in awe. Fitzroy rolled his eyes, nabbing Vaporeon’s Poké Ball and handing it to the brown-haired Nurse Joy, who looked as if she hadn’t slept in a long time. While Emyr bounced on the sofas and examined every nook and cranny, Fitzroy checked on the computer, surprised to see that Maria had sent him an email – he’d seen her just that morning, after all.

TO: VANCE, Fitzroy
FROM: COSTELLO, Maria
Subject: Do you like your starter?
Content: I know you must be thinking it’s really awful that I gave you a Purrloin, but she just couldn’t be bothered living indoors all the time and I know you love cats. I went along to the Day Care after you left and they found a mystery egg, so you can have it!

As he placed the Egg in his party, wondering vaguely how Eggs could be transferred digitally since they weren’t held in Poké Balls, Emyr came up behind him. “Hello!” he said cheerily, peering at the screen. “Oh, look at you; a mysterious egg!”

“Knowing my luck, it’ll be another Purrloin,” Fitzroy replied sarcastically, switching off the PC and fetching the Poké Balls from the Nurse Joy. “Well, the first thing for us to do is go out and train, and for you, maybe catch a few more Pokémon.”

Emyr opened his bag, lifting out a handful of Ultra Balls. “That’s overkill,” Fitzroy chuckled, but he did also have an equally impressive inventory. He paused for a moment – did he have everything he needed in his inventory? He checked. “Hey, have you got a Town Map?”

Frowning, Emyr shook his head. After purchasing one from the in-centre Poké Mart, Fitzroy headed over to the nearest table, spreading it out. Schaan was a relatively small region, with almost no substance, so their plan of attack was going to be pretty simple – just fire through all the Gyms; pretty much every town had a Gym in it.
“So, Mr Experience,” Emyr said gently, holding down two corners of the map. “Tell me what we’re going to do.”

Always the reporter, Fitzroy pulled a pen out of his coat pocket. “Well, this isn’t a complicated region. We can just go wherever, since there are Gyms everywhere. What I suggest doing is planning out what order we do things in, so we know where we’re going and don’t end up aimlessly wandering.”

“Right.”

Fitzroy numbered all the towns. “We’ll go in that order,” he said, folding up the map. “So, Emyr... are you ready for your first ever Pokémon journey?”

Emyr’s pierced face broke into a bright grin. “Do you even need to ask?”

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

Hi, welcome to PXR! :D

I'm enjoying your story so far! You create such colourful and interesting characters! :) It's cool that it's set in a new region.

I found it kinda funny that he already had a Purrloin at home and now got given one as a starter. I realise he would be disappointed that it was unevolved and stuff, but he obviously likes cats and that Pokemon in particular, so I wouldn't have thought he'd mind so much. I was surprised Maria chose that Pokemon to breed for him when he already has one. xD

Looking forward to reading more! :)

[Severin]

I found it kinda funny that he already had a Purrloin at home and now got given one as a starter.)

Aww, bum, I knew something was wrong with the continuity! I tend to improvise when I write, so the continuity just goes down the toilet. Thanks for pointing that out; better give him another cat at home!

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

Haha! Oh that makes more sense! I was just feeling bad for his Purloin at home cos he got a new one. XD Flareon's a good choice. It would be warm to cuddle too. :D